About our founder
"Once named a “bridge to humanity's higher self,” Mona Antwan is the Founder of Mindfulness Leader, NFP, a first-of-its-kind educational program serving high school and college students, this project-based curriculum teaches young leaders 23 core principles based on three pillars:
Inner Awareness, Physical Awareness, and Being Intentional.
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This project-based series equips youth with the power to ignite their light and become the best version of themselves—an SEL-based organization dedicated to creating positive changes in the lives of youth through our Social-Emotional Learning Mindfulness Leader curriculum.
With over 10,017 students' lives transformed since 2017 and counting, the Mindfulness Leader programs have been formally recognized by
The White House and the Mayor's Office of Chicago.
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As a mother of 2 college students and 2 pugs, Mona’s dedication to serving humanity is fueled by her devotion to making students feel heard and seen- something she lacked as a 6-year-old Assyrian/Chaldean refugee entering Chicago Public Schools in 1980.
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Currently, a Chicago Peace Fellow with the Goldin Institute and a
Force for Good with the Chicago Police Department, Mona, and the Mindfulness Leader organization have launched a worldwide Technology platform and Mindfulness-based SEL curriculum package to share their teachings with youth worldwide." Available at the Apple Store or Google Play- The Mindfulness Leader App, curriculum is addressing the Mental Health and Trauma Crisis in schools.
Events & Articles
Mindfulness Leader is an active force in the community, across national and international platforms to bring our proven tools and techniques to as wide an audience as possible.
Please check out our past events and keep an eye out for all of our new and upcoming outreach programs!
Partnerships & Awards
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Partnered up with the City of Chicago’s After School Matters. Running programs during the school day and after-school.
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Received the Excellence Award in Making a Difference from the Cook County Treasurer Office Maria Pappas.
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Partner of the City of Chicago Police Department, “A Force for Good” (Only 18 nonprofits making the most impact in the City of Chicago)
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Recognized by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, the city of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events with the “2018 Chicago Arts Educators” Award.
Partnership with Vaugh Occupation High School working with the special needs youth, running daytime programming.
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Partnership with Hope Academy for High School Elective Courses.
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Invited to the White House for recognition of the program. The White House staff wants to see the Mindfulness Leader program in “every school across the nation”.
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Partnership with Chicago Public Schools and running daytime programming for students, parents, and teachers. Mindfulness Leader, NFP. is an approved CPS vendor. We are also a Strategic Source Vendor for the Social & Emotional Learning services at CPS which means that we were vetted for quality and alignment.
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Partner of Chicago Teachers Union, Training CPS teachers.
Partner of Chicago Public Schools.
Partnership with Niles Township High School District 219 and running daytime programming for students.
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Mona Antwan, 2020 Chicago Peace Fellow with the Goldin Institute.
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Partnership with DePaul University, Mindful Community-based Service Learning.
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